Storage building



Aug 16, 1932 H. D. JAMES I STORAGE BUILDING Filed Jan. 11. 1930 lNVENTOR Henry .9 Lia/fies ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY 1). JAMES, 015 EDGEWOOD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- TRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA STORAGE BUILDING My invention relates to storage buildings, particularly to that type in which circuitous elevators are utilized for parking and storing automobiles and more particularly to a compact arrangement of a plurality of circuitous elevator units and still more particularly to an arrangement of a plurality of such units in two adjacent 7 rows in which successive units are displaced or staggered with respect to units in the adjacent row.

The problem of parking automobiles in congested urban areas has long been recognized, and various means and methods of have been suggested and devised as solutions,

of the problem.

One of the suggested methods for parking automobiles comprises a plurality of cages or receptacles suitably supported in two adjacent vertical columns to be moved circuitously and successively therethrough. Automobile parking machines of called by various names, vators, circuitous elevators, continuous elevators and conveyor elevators. The term I which I think is most correctly applicable to an automobile parking device of this kind is circuitous elevator. r Structures of various types have been suggested to effect the circuitous movement of a plurality of receptacles or cages successively through two adjacent vertical columns, one of the most practical being that comprising a pair of endless chains, each in the form of a loop and each disposed vertically and'supported at top and bottom by suitable sheaves or sprocket wheels, the cages orreceptacles being pivotally suspended from, and between, such chains. It is this type of circuitous elevator which is illustrated in the drawing but it should be understood that my invention applies to circuitous elevators of any type;

In order to secure a capacity for storing a large number of automobiles in a relatively small area, various arrangements of circuitous elevators or combinations thereof have been suggested. One of the arrangements of units has been to place a plurality of them in one row back to back with respect to another row comprising a plurality of such p this type have been such as garage ele-,

' place one row of elevator elevators. In an arrangement or layout of this kind, it hasbeen necessary to provide entrance spaces on opposite sides of the two rows of elevator units for entrance into, and exit from, the cages of such units. Obviously, in a location where access to the elevator units is obtainable from one side only, considerablev ground area is wasted in the movement of automobiles to the side of the double row of units away from the side immediately adja cent to the entrance way. This space, in some cases, might prevent the utilization thereof for the installation of other units and thus the total ground space available is not utilized to the maximum degree of efficiency. In my invention, two rows of elevator units are so positioned with respect to each other that waste entrance space is avoided, and a maximum efficiency of utilization of the total available ground space is secured.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to so position a plurality of elevator units with respect to each other that a maximum efficiency of area is secured. 7

Another object of my invention is to disunits with respect to an adjacent row of such units placed back to back with reference to the first row so that entrance to the cages of the second row may be obtained by passage between the lowermost cages in the first row.

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from a'description of a specific embodiment thereof when read in connection with the accom panying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary elevational view, a portion being broken away to show the displaced or staggered relation of circuitous elevator units in two contiguous rows to secure entrance and exit to one row through the space between the lowermost cages of the first row.

Fig.2 is a diagrammatic plan view illusutilization of available ground (ill trating the relative positions of the circuitous elevator units themselves in a preferred arrangement, the positions of the lowermost cages of each unit being shown by broken lines and the positions of cages in the vertical columns by solid lines.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of a modified arrangement for combining a plurality or" circuitous elevator units which is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 but differs in the number of units in each row.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view of another modified arrangement of circuitous elevators.

My invention comprises a supporting structure 11, (refer to Fig. 1) which may or may not include inclosing building walls, supporting a series of circuitous elevator units 12, 13 etc. in one row and a series of such units 14 etc. in a second row to the rear of, and contiguous with respect to, the first row comprising the units 12, 13 etc.

All of the units 12, 13, 14 etc. are similar in structure; for example, in the unit 12, a plurality of cages or receptacles 15 are supported pivotally between, and directly from, a pair of endless chains 17 .by pivotal attachment tov bracket arms 16 which are, in turn, suitably supported by the endless chains 1'7.' Although'but one chain 17 is shown for each elevator, it should be clear that there are, in reality, two such chains, one at each end of the cages. Each endless chain 17 is supported at the top of the supporting structure 11 by a sheave or sprocket wheel 18 mounted upon, and keyed to, a shaft or axle 19 which is, in turn, j ournalled in a suitable bearing 20. The bearing 20 is supported on horizontally disposed structural members 21 constituting parts of the entire supporting structure 11.. The lowermost part of each chain 17 is guided by means of a sprocket 22 secured to a shaft 23 journalled in a bearing 24 which is, in turn, secured upon a horizontally-disposed structural member 25, constituting a part'of the build ing structure 11. i

The endless chains 17 are retained in aclefinite vertical path of travel by the supporting guides 26 suitably attached to the building structure 11.

Suitable depressions 27 in the ground floor of the building structure are provided to permit a free movement of the cages through the lowermost position of travel and to effect the substantial alinement of the track members 28 on the cages 15 with the entrance driveway 29.

Loading of each of the cages 15 is accomplished when it is in the lowermost position by driving the automobiles therein-to by socalled end loading, that is, in a direction parallel to the greater axis of the cages 15.

In Fig. .2, is illustrated, diagrammatically, a layout of four rows'30, 31,32, and 33 of circuitous elevator units in a building structure 34 having the entrance and exit passages 35 and 36. The cages or storage receptacles in adjacent vertically movable columns of the same conveyor unit are represented by the rectangles designated a: and 3 respectively. The rectangles in broken lines, designated as 2, represent the lowermost positions of the respective cages. It is in this position that automobiles are driven into, and out of, the cage, in loading and unloading, after passing through one of the entrances 35 and 36 in a direction perpendicular to the side of the building structure through which those entrances lead.

In Fig. 3, is represented, diagrammatically, a modified layout of four rows 37, 33, 39.

and 40 of circuitous elevator units suitably supported in a building structure 41 having the entrance and exit passages 42 and 43..

Thecages in the adjacent vertically movable columns'of each unit are represented by the rectangles wand 'z respectively, and the lower position of each cage of the several units is represented by the dotted rectangle z, the same as in Fig. 2.

The automobiles are loaded upon the cages of any of the elevator units by entering the building structure through either of the entrances 42 and 43 and moving directly into any cage at the'lowermost position.

In Fig. 4, is illustrated a modified layout comprisin two rows 44 and 45 of circuitous elevator units suitably supported in a building structure 46 having but one entrance and exit passage 47. The cages or storage receptacles of adjacent vertically moving columns of each unit-are represented by the rectangles a: and 3 respectively, and the lowermost position of each cage is represented by the dotted rectangle .2. Automobiles are driven directly through the entrance 47 of the building structure into the cages of the units in row 44 that are in the lowermost position. It will be seen that, in order for an automobile to have access to the cages of the units in row 44, they must first pass through the space between the lowermost cages of successive units in row 45. The displaced relation of the units in row 44 and in row 45 is thus clearly apparent.

The fundamental principle of my invention may best be understood from a description of' assumed operations thereof. Fig. 4

will be used in these assumed operations, and

it should'be understood that a similar modeof operation will obtain in both Figs. 2 and 3.

Assume an automobile 50 entering the building structure 46 perpendicularly to its side, through the entrance 47 which may be provided witlrsuit-able doors or gates. The automobile may be moved directly forward, under its own power, into the lowermost cage of any unit, for example, the one at the lef hand end of the row 45. The driver of the automobile then stops his car in a. suitable position on the cage, gets out of the automobile, leaves the cage on which the automobile is driven and secures a memorandum check of the particular cage of the particular unit from an attendant and departs. The attendant subsequently causes the unit to be moved, in either a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, as may be desirable, depending upon the vacant or occupied condition of adjacent cages of the same unit, to bring another vacant cage to the lowermost position in readiness for a subsequent automobile to be driven thereon. The automobile 51 represents an automobile which is supported upon a cage in one of the vertical columns of a unit in row 45 after the cage has left the lowermost position.

Now, assuming that it is desired to loadan automobile upon one of the cages of one of the units in row 44. The automobile 52 represents the successive positions of an automobile from its position in the entrance 47 to its final position on the cage in a lowermost position of a unit in the row 44. The intermediate representation of the automobile 52 shows this position between the lowermost cages of two adjacent units in the first row 45. After the automobile 52 has been driven upon the cage of the unit in the rear row 44, that unit is moved or rotated by an attendant until another vacant cage or platform is at the loading level. The automobile 53 represents an automobile in one of the vertically moving columns of cages of a unit in row 44 after the cage has left the lowermost or loading position.

It will be understood that the units of the front row 45 must be stationary, with one cage of each unit in the lowermost position,

in order to provide a sufficient space between these lowermost cages to allow sufficient space for the passage of an automobile between them to reach the rear row of units. In actual operation, either the front row 45 or the rear row 44 will be completely filled before the other row is utilized.

Another mode of operation is that certain of the units of the front row are utilized while certain units in the rear row, which do not depend upon passage between lowermost cages of those units in the front row for access to their cages, may be utilized without any disadvantageous results with respect to delaying the operation of those certain units in the front row.

An installation of this kind is especially adapted for places where groups of drivers park their automobiles at different times, as in a large manufacturing establishment having different working hours, that is, different t mes for starting and stopping work, by shop and office workers. Obviously, the shop workers who start work early in the morn-'- ing may park their automobiles on the cages of the units in the front row and thus completely load all of the units in the front row. An hour or more-later, the office park their automobiles on the units in the rear row. The units of the front row, being completely filled, will remain stationary, :7

with no disadvantage accruing thereby, since there is no reason for moving them until the automobiles are called for, which, of course, occurs later in the day during the afternoon when the shop workers leave.

Thus, the shop workers will have completely.

unloa'dedtheir automobiles from the units of the front row prior to the time when the office workers desire to unload their automobiles from the rear row, so that the units of the front row may be held stationary without disadvantage.

Thus, it will be seen that my invention comprises,'basically, the displacement of contiguous rows of adjacent circuitous elevator fore, is not to be restricted except as necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims. I claim as my invention:

1. In a storage system, the combination with means defining an enclosed area and providing an opening for entrance into and exit from the area at only a portion of the periphery thereof, of a plurality of circuitous elevator units occupying substantially all of the area and arranged into two contiguous rows in closely-spaced consecutive relation, one of said rows of units being of.a length substantially the same as the extent of the opening into the area and positioned immediately in front of the opening, whereby access to the other row is possible only through the said one row, each of said units comprising. a plurality of storage receptacles movable into a lowermost position thereof, the lowermost receptacles of two consecutive units in the row immediately in front of the opening, having a space therebetween providing a passageway for entrance into and exit from a lowermost receptacle of a unit of the other row, in a straight line from the opening.

2. In a vehicle storage system, the combination with means defining an enclosed area and providing an opening for the entrance and exit of vehicles to and from the area at only a portion of the periphery thereof, of a plurality of circuitous elevator storage units occupying substantially all of the area and arranged into two contiguous rows in closely spaced consecutive relation with one workers will of said rows disposed immediately in front of the opening and having a length substantially that of the extent of the Opening whereby vehicular access to the units of the other row is possible only by passing through the said one row, each of said elevator units comprising a plurality of vehicle supports movable successively through two adjacent columns in an endless path, the units of said one row being thereby adapted to provide :a. plurality of passageways for a vehicle each passageway extending from said opening to said other row between a support of one unit and a support of a next consecutive unit when both are in their lowermost positions respectively, the units of the other of said rows being so relatively arranged with respect to the units in said one row that the passageways provided in the said one row are in alignment, respectively, with the supports of difi'erent units of the said other row. In testimony whereof, I have hereuntosubscribed my name this 31st day of December 1929. 25 HENRY D. JAMES. 

